Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (now the Council of Science Editors--formerly Council of Biology Editors)

American Medical Association Manual of Style

If I’m using a journal’s style format, where do I find that?

Academic journals have a “Guide for Authors” or “Instructions for Authors,” available either in the print journal or on their web site. You also should look at articles in the most recent issues of the journal.

What needs to be documented?

Another person’s idea or opinion

Anything published, including web materials

Your own published work

Interpretations

Drawings or photographs

Charts and graphs

Lab results

Lecture notes

Professional presentations

Techniques and procedures

Surveys and test instruments

What does not need to be documented?

Common knowledge

What is “common knowledge”?

“Bare-bone” facts from a dictionary or other basic reference books

Dates, titles of principal works or studies, proper names

Scientific and technical terms

Example of common knowledge:

“Watson and Crick proposed a spiral model of DNA, the double helix.”

How can you effectively and appropriately use secondary source material in your writing?

Direct quotation

Copies the exact words of a source

Is used sparingly in graduate-level writing

Paraphrase

Restates source information in your own words

Assimilates research into a single style of writing to avoid awkward sentence structure, choppiness, or both

Summary

Condenses an entire article, chapter, book, or web source

Is much shorter than the original

Re-presentation

Draws on original source material to create tables,

How can I effectively (and ethically) paraphrase?

Read and understand the original source.

Use a highlighter pen only if you are going to write notes also.

Write the bibliographic information down carefully and completely.

Make notes using words, phrases, or a short string of words. Do NOT copy full sentences or long sections of text.

Leave the material for a period of time, at the very least several hours but preferably several days.

When you write your paper, use only the notes that you’ve taken.

Never write your paper while looking directly at the original text.

Absolutely never write your paper with photocopies of original texts in which sentences have been highlighted spread around you.

Place appropriate citations in your text to indicate sources.

After writing a complete section such as the background, verify details included in your paper by using the original text.

Add details or make other adjustments if what you have written misrepresents the original text.

Be prepared—Plan ahead!

Effective (and ethical) writing takes time.

Student Spotlight

Jay BhattJay's research focuses on the various molecular machineries involved in forming transport vesicles at the Golgi.

Haley D. JohnsonHaley's research is focused on the transportation needs and safety issues of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Ethics for Authors

The UAB Ethics for Authors website explores ethical issues for students, researchers and faculty writing for publication. The site includes FAQs on citing and writing for research, e-tools and activities, and several handouts.

UAB EEO/Diversity and Inclusion

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.